Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition 0923

YOGA MONTH

YOGA on Vacation

GUIDING KIDS through trauma and anxiety

MEDICAL TOURISM

TRAVELING

for Spiritual Enlightenment

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“Success is attaining your dream while helping others to benefit from that dream materializing.” I just love the way that former professional boxer and motivational speaker Sugar Ray Leonard thinks. September is recognized as Hunger Action Month—a month in which people all over America stand and work together with Feeding America and the nationwide network of food banks to fight and win the battle against hunger. Americans everywhere are challenged to be compassionate, caring, and dedicated to spreading the word and working together to find solutions to end hunger. My parents made sure that it was ingrained in my psyche and spirit that a large part of what makes a human “good” is the capacity and willingness to positively impact the life of another—in a word: give.

Friends, I know that there is much debate and discussion about how “good” or even “great” America really is; however, I do firmly believe that this is STILL the greatest country in the world. For this very reason, it troubles me to think that fellow Americans that share our same freedoms, opportunities and protections go to bed hungry. This is a problem that together we can and MUST fix. It is entirely possible. Did you know that according to statistics, globally, poor nutrition causes nearly half (45 percent) of deaths in children less than 5 years of age each year, and in developing countries, one in six children (roughly 100 million) are underweight? Moreover, 66 million primary school-age children attend classes hungry across the developing world, with 23 million in Africa alone.

Melanie Rankin

Gabrielle W-Perillo

Lisa Doyle-Mitchell

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© 2023 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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What about in the U.S.? In 2017, 40 million people struggled with hunger. In fact, one in six American children may not know where their next meal is coming from, and a staggering 22 million children in America depend on free or reduced-priced lunch provided by schools. Sadly, as many as 3 million children still aren't getting the breakfast they need. Need more food for thought? People of color are disproportionately affected by higher risk of hunger. This is a critically urgent issue that impacts our great state as well. Our citizens need our help, and many of you have the capacity and I’m hoping the willingness to make an impact.

So, let’s give spare change to help make change! Please support Hunger Action Month by considering the ways that we (you) can personally make a difference. Lend a hand, support Harvest Hope Food Bank, help at the Oliver Gospel Mission, the Living Wright Foundation, or even discover the needs in your own local community and put your caring into tangible action. The age-old adage is true: You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving!

Ready to give,

Annette Carter Briggs, Publisher

SCWF Hosts Spiders of September

On Thursday, September 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) is hosting its Spiders of September training workshop at Goodale State Park, located at 650 State Road, in Camden. Participants will learn to distinguish the sexes and specific attributes of spiders and gain a better understanding of the different types of webs spiders spin, including how and why they are spun. Participants will also learn the basic aspects of a spider’s natural history and better understand the relationship between spiders and their environment. The workshop will be facilitated and led by Austin Jenkins, who teaches and coordinates the popular Midlands Master Naturalist class for SCWF. Jenkins also teaches Natural History of South Carolina at the University of South Carolina–Sumter. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch and water and be prepared for a day in the field.

Important note: SCWF reserves the right to cancel any event, due to unforeseen circumstances, extreme weather, low registration or pandemic-related guidance from local/state officials. Any cancellation by SCWF will result in a full refund for all registrants.

Cost: $75. For more information or to register, call 803-256-0670 or visit scwf.org/events/2023/spiders-of-september.

ICRC Hosts Outdoor Movie Night—Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Friday, September 8, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) is hosting its outdoor movie night at Crooked Creek Park, located at 1098 Old Lexington Highway, in Chapin. Attendees will enjoy the feature movie Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Open to all ages, the movie will start around 8 p.m. Food trucks will be on-site for purchases, and guests are encouraged to bring blankets and/or lawn chairs.

Cost: Free admission. For more information, call 803-345-6181 or visit icrc.net/event/outdoor-movie-night-puss-boots-last-wish.

KMB Hosts Lakeside Litter Sweep

Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) is hosting its Lakeside Litter Sweep event on Saturday, September 16, around areas of Lake Murray. Local Midlands area residents are welcome to join more than 20 event partners and approximately 250 volunteers coming together to clean up Lake Murray's shorelines, islands and water while having a great time. Volunteers can choose to stay onshore, utilize their own boats or sign up for a free pontoon boat ride to the islands designated to be cleaned. Preregistration is required.

For more information or to register, call 803-733-1139 or visit KeepTheMidlandsBeautiful.org.

Saluda Shoals Hosts Fall Music Series Event

Attention all music and dance lovers! On Friday, September 8, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., Saluda Shoals Park will kick off its fall music series with the classic rock band 3 Guys and My Dad. Beer and wine will be available for purchase and food will be provided by the Hautedog Lady. As a note, outside food and beverages are not permitted, and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.

OnCost: See website for details. Location: 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia. For more information, call 803-772-1228 or visit icrc.net/event/saluda-shoals-fall-musicseries-3-guys-my-dad-classic-rock. See ad, page 11.

PLT Hosts Trees & Me Environmental Education Workshop

OnSaturday, October 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., S.C. Project Learning Tree (PLT) is hosting its Trees & Me workshop at the Roper Mountain Science Center, located at 402 Roper Mountain Road, in Greenville. The innovative session contains hundreds of ideas for fun, easy-to-do, hands-on experiences designed to connect young children to nature, with a focus on trees and forests. Through both outdoor and indoor activities, children will explore nature through their senses, experience trees throughout all four seasons, and learn to connect with their local communities.

Participants will be trained in and receive the Trees & Me activity guide. Educators will also participate in several indoor and outdoor activities from the guide, learn about the PLT program, get access to local and online resources, and develop a lesson plan to use with students.

PLT is an environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators working with students from pre-kindergarten through high school. It uses the forest as a “window” into the natural world, helping young people gain an awareness and knowledge of the environment and their place within it. The S.C. program is sponsored by the S.C. Forestry Foundation, the S.C. Department of Education, the S.C. Forestry Commission, and the forest industry. The registration deadline is Friday, September 29.

Cost: $20 registration (free for in-service childcare providers registered with SC Endeavors). For more information, contact S.C. PLT Coordinator Matt Schnabel at 803-896-8892 or MSchnabel@scfc.gov. Also visit plt.org.

EEASC Hosts Virtual Zoom Meetup in September

It’s time to Zoom meet … again! On Tuesday, September 12, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) is hosting a green networking “meetup” informal Zoom session for environmental educators in the Midlands. Typically, meetings begin with a facilitated round-robin session where participants share updates and announcements.

EEASC meetups provide opportunities for environmental educators and communicators from both formal and non-formal education settings to build relationships, strengthen partnerships, share resources and program updates, and cross-pollinate their program ideas with colleagues.

Cost: Free. To register for the Zoom session, email admin@eeasc.org or visit eeasc.org/event-5385555. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

ICRC Hosts Cooking with Grandparents

OnSaturday, September 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) is hosting its very special Cooking with Grandparents experience at Seven Oaks Park, located at 200 Leisure Lane, in Columbia. For chefs ages 7 and up, this very interactive cooking class is designed to bring grandparents and kids into the kitchen together for a funfilled, healthy experience.

Cost: $65 (one grandparent and one child). For more information, call 803-772-3336 or visit icrc.net/event/cooking-grandparents.

SCDHEC Offers Champions of the Environment Grants

TheSouth Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) is offering grants up to $2,500 each to K-12 teachers to help fund environmental education projects. SCDHEC’s Champions of the Environment grants are awarded to encourage recipients to improve or protect the environment. The deadline is Friday, September 22.

For more information or to apply, call Champions of the Environment Coordinator Amanda Ley at 803-898-4183 or visit scdhec.gov/champions.

Lexington County Hosts Hazardous Waste Recycling Event

OnFriday and Saturday, September 8 and 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lexington County Solid Waste Management is hosting a hazardous waste disposal and collection event at EcoFlo, located at 1741 Calks Ferry Road, in Lexington. For Lexington County residents only, the list of acceptable items includes acids, brake fluid, fire extinguishers, degreasers, glue and solvents, paint (up to 8 gallons), pesticides, electronics (up to five devices) and much more. As a note, business materials are not accepted and proof of county residence is required.

For more information (including a complete list of acceptable items and guidelines), call 803-785-3325 or visit Lex-Co.SC.Gov.

ICRC Hosts Guided Paddle of the Lower Saluda River

OnSaturday, September

30, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) is hosting a guided paddle tour of the lower Saluda River. Participants will learn about the natural history of the local area and will get the chance to explore one of two island destinations, ride the rapids, learn about the Lake Murray Dam, swim, observe local wildlife and much more. For explorers ages 5 and up, this is a great opportunity to explore the Midlands’ local waterways. Event gear will be provided; however, attendees are asked to bring water shoes.

Cost: $50/adult; $30/child (12 and under). Location: Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia. For more information, call 803-772-1228 or visit icrc.net/event/guided-paddle-lower-saluda-river.

Discover ‘Metabolic Nutrition’ at Radiant Holistic Healing

The mistake many dietitians and nutritionists make is allowing patients that are diagnosed as diabetic and prediabetic to continue eating processed carbohydrates. This is a serious error in judgement because when carbohydrates are consumed, insulin levels spike, which leads to the continuous raising and lowering of the body’s metabolic markers. As this cycle continues, one's glucose and metabolic levels are not lowered, nor is the root cause addressed. This persistent problem can lead to an overreliance on drugs and medications.

Radiant Holistic Healing offers an innovatively different approach. They utilize what they refer to as “Metabolic Nutrition.” The exact dosage of carbohydrates is customized and tailored to one’s unique daily needs, specific medical needs and/or dietary requirements. This approach helps to promote healing by lowering insulin and circulating glucose levels, stabilizing metabolic balance, and promoting body fat and inflammation reduction.

For more information, call 839-207-0057 or visit RadiantHolisticHealing.net. See ad, page 31.

Mindful Living: Cultivating Compassion and Empathy in the Digital Age

In this era of digital dominance, our interactions are increasingly virtual, often leading to feelings of isolation and detachment. As members of a spiritual community, we have the powerful opportunity to foster a sense of compassion and empathy in this digital landscape, and our pathway is through mindful living.

Mindfulness, the practice of being present and focused, helps us to approach our online interactions with intent, empathy and understanding, nurturing more meaningful connections. First, begin by recognizing your online habits. Consider how much time you spend in digital realms and the emotional effects of your online experiences. This self-awareness paves the way for transformation.

Next, practice intentionality in your digital behavior. Before posting or responding, take a pause to breathe and reflect. Ask yourself, does this communication align with my values? Does it contribute positively to the digital ecosystem?

Lastly, establish digital-free zones or periods. Utilize these times for meditation, contemplation, or other mindful practices that reconnect you with your inner spiritual journey and the world around you. It could be as simple as a walk without your phone. Embracing mindful living isn't merely about reducing screen time; it's about ensuring our digital engagements reflect our spiritual values. As part of a spiritual community, we can lead by example, promoting compassion and empathy in the vast expanse of the digital world. If you want to find others who live this way every day, I invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. for a celebration of the power of Spirit in our lives through meditation, music and message.

For more information, visit UnityOfTheMidlands.org. See ad, page 21.

Rosewood Art & Music Festival Hosts Annual Event

On Saturday, October 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Rosewood Art & Music Festival is hosting its annual festival event at 901 South Holly Street, in Columbia. Founded by Forrest Whitlark and Arik Bjorn in 2010, the popular festival for all ages will feature live entertainment on multiple stages, including visual arts, live poetry and music, in celebration of Southern arts and culture. Other event highlights include drawings, paintings and sculptures.

For more information, visit RosewoodFestival.com.

If you want to awaken all of humanity, awaken all of yourself.

~Lao Tzu

Impacts of Radio Frequency Radiation

The introduction of 5G mobile phones and infrastructure has given rise to concerns about their safety, as more than 1 million new antennas will be required in the U.S. Currently, the Federal Communications Commission and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection consider only the thermal effects (tissue heating) from electromagnetic frequency (EMF) exposure as potentially harmful.

A group of researchers led by Ariel University, in Israel, evaluated the non-thermal effects of exposure to EMF radiation on biological systems and human populations by reviewing in vitro [outside a living organism] and in vivo [inside a living organism] studies, as well as clinical studies on electromagnetic hypersensitivity and the epidemiological evidence for cancer due to the action of mobile-based radiation exposure Although data derived from these studies was inconsistent, the researchers found supporting evidence that this radiation may contribute to cancer, endocrinological, neurological and other adverse health consequences. The researchers call for a more targeted, interdisciplinary research effort by national governments to ensure public health.

Sucralose May Damage DNA

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener 600 times sweeter than table sugar. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its use in baked goods, beverages, chewing gum, gelatins and frozen dairy desserts. A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of North Carolina found that ingesting sucralose may cause the formation of a genotoxic chemical called sucralose-6-acetate. Genotoxicity refers to the breaking up of DNA, resulting in damage that could potentially contribute to health problems. Researchers also found trace amounts of this dangerous chemical in sucralose itself, even before it was consumed and metabolized.

The study included eight projects that exposed human blood cells to sucralose-6-acetate, which researchers found induces the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and cancer. Exposure to certain concentrations of sucralose-6-acetate and sucralose also appeared to impair the gut lining, and sucralose-6-acetate inhibited certain enzymes, which could interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize medications.

Children’s Physical Activity Declined Since Pandemic

In a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found that children’s physical activity has been greatly reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers looked at data from 22 studies that included 14,216 participants ranging from 3 to 18 years old. The data showed that children’s total daily physical activity decreased by 20 percent (17 minutes), irrespective of pre-pandemic baseline levels, and the reduction was larger for higher-intensity physical activity. This reduction represents almost one-third of the daily dose of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity recommended for young children and adolescents.

These effects are largely due to social distancing policies and related school closures, which affected 1.5 billion youth worldwide. Under lockdown, children no longer had access to regular physical activities, recreational facilities or outdoor recess, and online learning increased sedentary screen time, disrupting healthy habits. Physical activity affects not only physical health, but also psychosocial functioning and mental well-being.

The study’s results align with another meta-analysis showing that the pandemic increased the prevalence of youth depression and anxiety symptoms, highlighting the tremendous challenges that public health officials face to revive young people’s interest in physical activity since the pandemic.

Testing Acupuncture for Long-Term COVID

Long COVID affects nearly 14 percent of adult patients that had COVID-19. It is characterized by symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks after the initial infection, including fatigue, brain fog and breathlessness. Although there is no standard treatment for this clinical diagnosis, researchers in the UK are currently studying the impact of acupuncture on this lingering condition, as the practice has been successfully used to treat similar symptoms associated with other ailments.

The randomized trial began in 2022 and is expected to collect data from 160 participants until the year 2025. Participants with long COVID are selected if they have a fatigue score greater than five on the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale. The experimental group will be offered weekly 15-minute acupuncture treatments for six weeks, while the control group will receive no acupuncture treatments. Both groups will be required to complete questionnaires on their general physical and mental fatigue at baseline and at two, six and 12 weeks. Throughout the study, both groups will be provided with general advice on managing their symptoms. As reported by NBC News, the participants receiving acupuncture so far “do seem to be responding” positively to the treatments, according to Dr. Imogen Locke, a clinical oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital, in London, who is leading the study.

Rise in Children With Autism

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated statistics on the rate of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which has been on the rise. The data is based on reviews of developmental evaluations and records from medical and educational service providers.

One in 36 children was diagnosed with autism by age 8 in 2020, or about 2.8 percent of children, up from one in 44 children in 2018 and one in 150 children in 2000, when the CDC first began tracking ASD prevalence in this country. Autism was also 3.8 times as prevalent among boys as girls, and for the first time the prevalence was slightly lower among white children compared to other racial and ethnic groups, which is a reversal of racial and ethnic differences observed in the past. However, Black children with ASD remain more likely than white children with ASD to have a co-occurring intellectual disability.

The CDC partially attributes these patterns to improved screening, awareness and access to services. They highlight the importance of accessible and equitable ASD diagnostic treatment and services for children of different backgrounds and call for more research to comprehend the emergence of diagnostic differences across states.

Maryna_Auramchuk/ShutterStock.com

Harvesting Solar Power in Space

Space-based solar power (SBSP) is the concept of collecting solar energy during a space orbit and beaming it safely to a fixed point on Earth. Recently, the British government sponsored an SBSP competition to award more than $5.5 million in grants to the most promising innovators of this novel technology, which may be the key to producing cost-effective, cleaner, more renewable energy. The goal is an array of spacecraft to collect sunlight and convert it into microwaves before beaming them to a receiver on Earth, where it is converted into electricity.

Because space has no atmosphere, the sunlight is undiluted, which means that a space-based solar panel would be able to generate more energy than a comparable panel on Earth. The other potential benefit to collecting solar power in space is that there are no day-night cycles, cloud cover or seasonal variations to contend with.

Among the grant winners were two British schools: Cambridge University, which is developing ultra-lightweight panels that can withstand high radiation levels, and Queen Mary University, which is working on a wireless system to safely beam the energy to Earth. In related research, scientists at the California Institute of Technology were able to successfully transmit power wirelessly in space and to beam detectable power to Earth using an experimental spacecraft.

Light-Emitting Technology on the Horizon

Ayurvedic Cosmetics on the Rise

In Sanskrit, Ayurveda translates to “the science of everyday living,” and it is one of the world’s oldest systems of medicine.

Offering a holistic path for cultivating health and well-being, Ayurveda promotes balance and harmony with the use of natural herbs, plant-based medicines and spices.

According to a recent comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), the worldwide Ayurvedic products market size is expected to grow from $12.6 billion in 2023 to $31.8 billion by 2032. MRFR analysts ascribe this impressive growth to increased availability and public awareness of such goods, as well as a deepening distaste for the adverse side effects of conventional medicines and products.

Demand for Ayurvedic cosmetic products is also on the rise, according to the same MRFR report. Supporting the idea that outer beauty reflects what is going on inside the body, beauty brands like Kama Ayurveda, RANAVAT and Forest Essentials are expanding into the global sector. Their increasing popularity follows broader trends toward organic and natural medicines and “clean beauty”, as well as increasing awareness about toxic ingredients in some Western products. Ayurvedic components have been used recently to balance Western formulas. For instance, in skincare, sandalwood is added as an antioxidant, and turmeric is combined with topical retinoid medications to reduce irritation.

Researchers from Japan and Germany are developing eco-friendly light devices that use a single layer of organic film mixed with light-emitting materials and an electrolyte. These light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEC) are gaining attention due to their simplified structure and because they consume less energy and cost less than the organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) currently on the market. The research team is using molecules called dendrimers, new organic materials that can extend the life of LECs. The electrolyte in an LEC can be made from inexpensive materials, such as biomass-derived cellulose acetate, a compound used in clothing fibers and eyeglass frames, whereas OLEDs use rare or heavy metals. Researchers are also using graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, as the electrode. While the progress is exciting, the developers of this new lighting technology note that more research is needed before it goes to market in order to make the devices brighter and capable of illuminating in three primary colors.

Embrace the Winding Road

by Marlaina Donato

Life’s transitions can feel like a broken bead necklace, with scattered pieces of ourselves waiting to be restrung. When we pack up our lives to move into a new home or organize neglected drawers, we may stir up clouds of bittersweet memories. Watching our kids leave the nest, we might wonder where the time has gone. As a new self struggles to emerge from the chrysalis, our hormones might take us on a rollercoaster ride before unveiling breathtaking wings.

At times, we have one foot on shifting sands and the other in midair, waiting to connect to solid ground. Inspirational author Neale Donald Walsch says, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”—wise words for those of us that are halfway across the rickety swinging bridge of change.

Breaking our own rules can gift us with a brand of freedom that we’ve only imagined. Seasoned travelers and weekend adventurers might agree that setting aside plans and maps invites unforeseen magic. Ordering something we cannot pronounce on the menu, turning left instead of right or revisiting an old dream might be a wonderful decision.

When we take our hands off the wheel and float into possibility, the universe smiles and nudges our secret longing for something new, something more harmonically aligned with our own unique frequency. Meeting life in the moment, wherever we happen to be, can be a challenging but rewarding spiritual discipline.

When we take a deep breath and turn the page, life deepens in color and gets more interesting. When we resist the well-meaning way that has been carved out for us and choose to go off the beaten path despite the uncertainty ahead, we will meet ourselves more deeply, no matter what happens. Perhaps this is the meaning behind it all—the magical door we seek. Honoring the sanctity of change is the key to fulfillment.

Marlaina Donato is an author, visionary painter and composer. Connect at JaguarFlower.art.

Savor the Present Moment

HOW TO ADD MINDFULNESS TO MEALTIME

by Veronica Hinke

There is a sharp difference between grabbing a fast-food burger at the drive-through and paying full attention to a home-prepared meal. For many of us, busy schedules and harried lifestyles get in the way of a more introspective dining experience. Mindful eating—the practice of slowing down, appreciating the present moment and becoming consciously aware of the ingredients, flavors, aromas and textures that we consume—can be

a worthwhile meditative endeavor.

“If we’re mindful of what we eat, when we eat and how we eat, we are supporting the vibrancy of what our bodies are so capable of,” says Dr. Carrie Demers, medical director at the Himalayan Institute, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. “Studies show that when people stop to sit down and chew their food carefully, they not only eat less, but they actually get more enjoyment out of their

meal. Food tastes better when we are actually present with it.”

“When we slow down, we become more aware,” says Shawngela Pierce of Seek Within You, who leads spiritual retreats in Sedona, Arizona. “Sometimes people eat out of habit, but when we become more mindful, we start to notice patterns that, once understood, can help us harness a whole new way of eating and living.”

Mindfulness can begin before we even sit at the dining room table, “when we aren’t distracted by watching television or something else, and we take the time to think deeply about what we are preparing,” Pierce says, adding that calm focus can even help us when shopping for ingredients at the farmers market or grocery store.

Recipes That Enrich Mindful Eating

The Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute, in Aguada, Puerto Rico, offers a mindful eating class that invites diners to practice with a bowl of Ann Wigmore’s Energy Soup—a recipe by the institute’s founder containing an array of vegetables, legumes and grains. “It’s fulfilling, nutritious and cleansing, all in one,” says Executive Director Carolyn Marin. “Key in what makes this a mindful eating meal is that while it is pulsed in a blender, it is not a liquid, and it requires chewing. Also, it is served at room temperature, which helps with mindful eating and proper digestion.”

While soft music plays in the background, students of the mindful eating class are instructed to slowly pick up their spoons, place a serving of soup in their mouths, set their spoons down and unhurriedly chew 30 times. “They look out at the ocean, breathing carefully, eating consciously and slowly, taking their time and getting their body out of fight-or-flight mode and into healing mode. It can be very emotional,” Marin explains. “Mindful eating also aids in digestion because the person is chewing the food fully and allowing it to spend more time in the mouth, where digestion begins. Many of our guests have experienced noticeable improvement with acid reflux, stomach aches and nausea.”

Four Aspects of Mindful Eating

Marc Demers, head chef at The Himalayan Institute, says there are four aspects of mindful eating—right food, right time, right quantity and right attitude or environment—each of which can be individualized and honed to deepen awareness and improve health. Here are his recommendations.

RIGHT FOOD: Eat fresh, whole foods that are easy to digest and give energy. We need mindfulness to notice which foods support us and which cause indigestion, mucus or fatigue.

RIGHT TIME: Our bodies naturally digest better in the daytime and when we feel hunger. Stop eating at least three hours prior to bedtime. We need mindfulness to notice the difference in digestion between eating ice cream at 3 p.m. and at 11 p.m.

RIGHT QUANTITY: Eat just the right amount of food— enough to feel satisfied and fuel the day’s activities, but not so much that we feel lethargic or sleepy. Mindfulness helps us notice our hunger and fullness, as well as how we feel after we eat.

RIGHT ATTITUDE OR ENVIRONMENT: Sit down in a peaceful place, ideally with people we like, rather than eating while driving, working or walking. Don’t eat when stressed or angry. If we are upset, it is better to take a moment to mindfully breathe and calm the nervous system before eating. The goal is to welcome the food with gratitude and openness.

Take It Slow and Steady

For those struggling to commit to mindful eating, Pierce says, “Start practicing mindful eating with the food that you enjoy the most. Don’t try to do it all at once. Just try one meal each week as a start. Make it a priority. Set a reminder if it helps. Have fun with it. Make it a playful practice. Say, ‘Today is going to be my mindful eating day.’ That opens the gateway to something that will become an integral part of your spiritual life.”

Veronica Hinke is a food historian and author of The Last Night on the Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining and Style and Titanic: The Official Cookbook. Learn more at FoodStringer.com.

HEARTY QUINOA SALAD

YIELD: 4 TO 6 SERVINGS (6 CUPS)

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

7 Tbsp scallions, sliced thin

1 cup quinoa

1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen

1¾ cups kale, stems removed, finely chopped

1¾ cups cheese of choice, crumbled or diced small (use tofu or tempeh for vegan option)

⅓ cup pesto (dairy or vegan)

⅓ cup sunflower seeds

⅓ cup dried tomatoes, chopped

Wash and drain the quinoa three times. Cook according to package instructions.

Let cool. If using frozen corn, cook in water for 3 minutes.

Blanch the kale (spinach or other leafy greens work also). Press out extra water.

Sauté the scallions for 2 to 3 minutes. If using tofu or tempeh, lightly brown it in the skillet.

Combine all of the ingredients, and mix well. Use within 3 days.

ANN WIGMORE’S ENERGY SOUP

This soup has several properties that facilitate mindful eating. It is served at room temperature, loaded with diverse ingredients and pulsed, rather than liquified, allowing for purposeful chewing, attentive tasting and proper digestion. The liquid base includes cabbage rejuvelac, a fermented, bubbly probiotic resembling unsalted sauerkraut juice that restores electrolytes, B vitamins and gut balance.

YIELD: 2 TO 4 SERVINGS

½ cup cabbage rejuvelac (recipe below)

1 cup non-starchy vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, radishes, beets, carrots, celery or cucumbers, chopped

1 cup non-bitter, leafy greens or herbs, chopped

1 Tbsp seaweed

1 Tbsp lentil or pea sprouts

6 cups sunflower microgreens

2 cups buckwheat microgreens

1 Tbsp grated ginger

1 cup papaya, chopped

1 fresh lime, cut into wedges

FOR THE CABBAGE REJUVELAC:

6 cups red or green cabbage, chopped

3½ cups filtered or spring water

To make the rejuvelac, use a blender to purée the water and cabbage. Pour the mixture into a glass jar, cover and store in a room that is 74°F or warmer for 3 days. Open and close the lid of the jar once each day to release air.

To make the soup, use a blender to combine the rejuvelac, vegetables, seaweed and sprouts, pulsing so as to not over-blend, and slowly add the micro greens. Pour into bowls and add ginger, papaya and lime juice. Serve at room temperature.

Can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks.

Recipe and photo courtesy of the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute.

Photo by Carolyn Marin

Photo courtesy of The Himalayan Institute; recipe by Head Chef Marc Demers.

Photo by Himalayan Institute

GREEK ORZO AND CHICKPEA SALAD

This recipe by Vincci Tsui, a dietician and intuitive eating counselor in Calgary, Canada, can inspire mindfulness because it requires chopping, dicing and cubing ingredients, which can be methodical and meditative activities. In terms of eating the salad, the numerous flavors and textures provide ample opportunity to engage the senses and be present with the food.

YIELD: 4 TO 6 SERVINGS (6 CUPS)

8 oz orzo

1 19-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed (about 2 cups cooked)

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

1 large English cucumber, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1 cup chopped basil

7 oz feta, cut into ½-inch cubes

FOR THE DRESSING:

¼ cup red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp honey

1 tsp dried oregano

½ cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

Meanwhile, make the dressing by whisking together the red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey and oregano until honey is dissolved. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together cooked orzo and remaining salad ingredients. Add in dressing and toss to coat.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Dietician and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor Vincci Tsui.

Photo by Vincci Tsui

Travel can broaden our perspective of the world and take us on breathtaking adventures. These new experiences, however, often come with unexpected mental and physical challenges, stresses and anxieties. By incorporating yoga into the itinerary, we can cultivate a sense of peace, allowing us to show up as our best selves. From asanas after long hours of sitting to breathing exercises while waiting for a flight, yogic techniques can open the body and mind, letting us enjoy both the journey and destination.

According to Jenny Kaufman, a Chicago-based yoga professional who leads international retreats and manages yogaview, in Wilmette, Illinois, a mindful yoga practice is different from stretching and is available for anyone, regardless of physical flexibility. “Yoga encompasses well-being, mindfulness, breathing and spiritual awareness. It leads you to pull inward, notice what and where you feel a sensation, and mindfully progress to another asana, or pose. Increased flexibility might be the byproduct of the practice, but that is not the point,” she explains.

“Long layovers, changing time zones and

Yoga on Vacation

SIMPLE POSES AND TIPS FOR TRAVELERS

by Carrie Jackson

different foods can confuse our internal clocks and wreak havoc on sleep digestion,” Kaufman says. She recommends some poses to mitigate disruption and bring renewed vigor to body and mind: “To wind down before bed, incorporate cooling postures, such as Seated Forward Bend and Child’s Pose, that encourage the body to fold in and rest. For a burst of energy, try warming poses and heart openers, such as Cobra, Sphinx and Backbends. If space is limited, stand with fingers interlaced behind the back and gently press the pelvis forward. If digestion is slowed, simple twists and Wind-Relieving Pose can help move things along.”

Kim Larkin, a New Jersey-based certified yoga teacher, leads international retreats as a way to share heart-opening cultural adventures with other curious beings. “My main practice when travel stress is creeping in is to drop my attention into my breath,” she says. “Just focusing on one breath cycle at a time will help to settle my attention into my body, begin to quiet my nervous system and bring me to a more grounded place. It can also be helpful to count the breath, as in Sama Vritti Pranayama or “box breathing”. Like a square, box breathing has four evenlength parts to it. Inhale to a count of four or five; hold the inhale for the same count; exhale to four or five; and hold at the bottom of the exhale. Repeating this as needed

helps to calm both the mind and body.”

Margi Young, an Oakland, California-based yoga instructor and retreat leader, says, “When traveling, it’s natural to want to jump into a busy schedule of exploring new destinations, but starting the day with a few conscious breaths and Sun Salutations can set the foundation for a more grounded experience. This allows you to be your best self and move through your journeys with less anxiety and fresh eyes. Or, get off the traditional yoga script and take a few minutes to put on your favorite tunes and dance to get into your body.”

Young also recommends incorporating yoga throughout the day while traveling to reset from any physical and mental stress. “In an airport, find a secluded place you feel comfortable doing a Downward Dog. Instead of putting your hands on the ground, you could put them on the seat of a chair. This grounding pose lengthens the spine, opens the shoulders and draws your attention inward,” she explains. “On a plane or bus, reaching your arms overhead gives space to condensed organs; ankle circles help increase circulation; and seated Figure Four opens up tight hips,” she advises.

If time allows, Young also suggests finding a yoga studio and popping in for a class. “Taking a yoga class in a new country or city can provide an immediate sense of community and is often a uniting gateway to other connections when navigating new and different surroundings,” she asserts.

Sun Salutations_Art Alex/ShutterStock.com

Yoga helps to develop patience, an aptitude that Kaufman says can serve us throughout our travels. “Mindfully moving through a practice encourages us to listen and be patient with our bodies, and it provides valuable feedback on where we are and what we need. Instead of jumping into a deep stretch, purposefully encourage the hamstring to open up and notice how that feels. Cultivating that patience for ourselves changes the chemistry in your brain and becomes a microcosm for how you put yourself into the world. You’re able to be more patient with flight attendants, travel partners and everyone else you may encounter,” she shares.

For Larkin, practicing yoga while traveling cultivates inner peace. “The stress of travel can bring out the worst in us, but we can do our best to stay kind and considerate by keeping in mind the yoga teaching of Ahimsa: non-harming,” she says. “Most things work out, even if you lose your luggage or miss your flight. And most people are good, wanting to help you find your luggage or rebook your flight or commiserate when your vacation didn’t go quite to plan.”

Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

Oostendorp/peopleimages.com

TRAVELING WITH PURPOSE

NINE DESTINATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT

by Kiki Powers

Seeker rests on Machu Picchu while viewing Huayna Picchu in Peru

Throughout history, humans have embarked on pilgrimages in pursuit of wealth, good fortune, divine intervention, spiritual enlightenment and other blessings. These journeys could be considered the earliest manifestations of one type of adventure travel, while today some of these would be defined as spiritual tourism.

The notion of “spirit” refers to both our conscious and subconscious minds. A spiritual practice, then, is any activity that enables us to step away from the noisy parade of life and explore our emotions, where any concept of the human spirit resides. This spiritual self-care includes any ritual or practice that helps connect us with our most authentic higher self.

Travel can be an amazing way to explore metaphysical interests with new people, sites and scenes, in order to invigorate the senses, stimulate the imagination, refresh the mental framework and invite new ideas and personal insights. Some places qualify for spiritual travel by virtue of their natural beauty, or due to some historical, mythological or religious significance. For a trip that fosters mind-body-spirit self-care with a generous portion of adventure, check out these sacred sites.

Mount Shasta

This Northern California treasure is believed to be a powerful spiritual vortex that has long captured the imagination of spiritual seekers. By some accounts, Mount Shasta is reputed to be the Earth’s root chakra, in keeping with the belief that, like the human body, planet Earth possesses chakra energy centers

This majestic mountain, which is associated with healing, transformation and spiritual awakening, is a stunning backdrop for the many spiritual retreats and workshops offered locally that include meditation, energy healing, yoga, sound therapy and other restorative modalities.

Spiritual guide Andrew Oser, who has led Mount Shasta retreats for decades, says, “I can help you allow Mount Shasta’s transforming energies into the core of your very being, and by utilizing my direction to harness the mountain’s heightened vibration, you will feel it almost magically dissolve all of your fears.”

Sedona, Arizona

Surrounded by red rock canyons, whimsical forests and waterfalls, Sedona’s natural beauty inspires spiritual reflection. It is also part of one of the most powerful energy vortexes in the world and a New Age Mecca for those seeking transcendence through energy healing, yoga, sound baths and a host of other spiritual offerings.

From venturing to the bright turquoise waters at Havasu Falls nearby to visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross, there are many activities in Sedona for those wishing to connect more deeply to nature and themselves.

Bali, Indonesia

Known as the “Island of the Gods”, Bali is a captivating destination with a serene, spiritual ambiance. Nestled amidst lush greenery and terraced rice fields, the town of Ubud, in the uplands of Bali, enjoys international recognition for its spiritual offerings and welcoming vibe for those seeking inner peace and self-discovery.

Holistic healing options in Bali include energy therapies, sound healing and traditional Balinese massage. Yoga enthusiasts will be delighted with the varied class options, immersive programs and specialized workshops. Along with wellness spas offering rejuvenating treatments that harmonize the body, mind and spirit, Bali offers beautiful meditation areas for quiet contemplation.

Edwin Verin/Shutterstock.com

DavideAngelini/ShutterStock.com

Maddy

M/ ShutterStock.com

Machu Picchu, Peru

Spirituality runs deep in the Peruvian culture, from the ancient temples of the Incas to the living history of shamanism in the Amazon jungle. Machu Picchu has long been a revered site, and historically the place for worshipping the sun, the main Inca deity. Seekers can explore Machu Picchu on their own or participate in guided spiritual meditations—either way, it is a beautiful destination for a mind-body-spirit getaway.

For those seeking a deep mystical experience, Peru Sacred Tours provides a safe haven for spiritual advancement with the individualized attention and guidance of indigenous practitioners, including the herbalist shamans of the rainforest, Q’ero Inca priests of Cuzco or Moche San Pedro shamans of Chiclayo.

Egypt

Egypt is considered a land of majesty and mystery, attracting treasure hunters, history buffs and adventure seekers, as well as those searching for spiritual transformation. This world-renowned destination has a long history of spirituality, with a colorful tapestry of beliefs and practices. The ancient Egyptians were convinced of the existence of a spiritual plane, while also maintaining deep reverence for the natural world, and these concepts continue to inform contemporary Egyptian culture and spirituality.

In recent years, there has been a surge in demand for spiritual tours in Egypt, particularly for meditation workshops in iconic places like the Great Pyramid of Giza, Valley of the Kings, Mount Sinai and Nile River. One of the more well-known tour guides is Freddy Silva, a leading researcher of ancient civilizations, sacred sites and their interaction with consciousness, as well as the bestselling author of The Divine Blueprint

Varanasi, India

Varanasi may be the world’s oldest city, settled more than 4,000 years ago. Located on the banks of the Ganges River, it is regarded as the spiritual heart of India, with a tradition of Hindu mythology, as well as Buddhism. Religious, humanist and secular visitors frequent the evening aarti ceremony, when sadhus [sages] show their devotion by raising flaming lamps amid the aroma of incense.

If this strikes a chord, renowned author and spiritual teacher Andrew Harvey is offering a 14-day pilgrimage to the artistic, historical and spiritual soul of North India in November. He is the founder and director of the Institute for Sacred Activism, an international organization that inspires people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming effective, practical agents of institutional and systemic change.

Kyoto, Japan

Imbued with the rich heritage and history of Zen Buddhism, this enchanting city is an ideal destination for seekers to explore close to 2,000 Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, as well as the iconic Golden Pavilion, where centuries of devotion and wisdom have been housed. Many of these sites also provide inspiring settings for quiet contemplation, meditation and discussions of The Buddha’s teachings. The traditional tea ceremony offered at numerous venues around the city is a refreshing, meditative practice that cultivates a sense of tranquility and connection to the present moment. Kyoto is also home to exquisite Japanese gardens that illustrate the profound relationship between nature and spirituality in this gentle culture.

Italy

As there are many sacred sites in Italy, a guided experience or well-planned itinerary may help facilitate an immersive spiritual journey. This is a labor of love for Phil Cousineau, author of more than 40 books, teacher, editor, independent scholar, documentary filmmaker, travel leader and storyteller. His lifelong fascination with art, literature and history of culture has taken him on journeys around the world.

Author of The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred, Cousineau has stated, “To shine the light of your own natural curiosity into the world of another traveler can reveal wonders—to remember the mysteries you forgot at home. What matters most on your journey is how deeply you see, how attentively you hear, how richly the encounters are felt in your heart and soul.”

In partnership with Sacred Earth Journeys, Cousineau has prepared a guided tour in November entitled The Sweet Life of Mythic Italy, which will explore sacred locations in Rome, Perugia, Assisi, Montepulciano, Florence, Verona and Venice. To learn more, visit Tinyurl.com/SweetLifeTour

Stonehenge, England

Every year, more than a million people make the spiritual voyage to Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England. Archaeologists are still seeking a plausible explanation as to how the stones weighing multiple tons were transported to the site. This ancient masterpiece of prehistoric engineering remains shrouded in mystery to this day.

There is further spiritual charm in myths around the purpose of Stonehenge. People ask, “Was it intended as a funeral monument, an astronomical observatory, a tool to predict the seasons or a sanctuary where the sun was worshipped?” Stonehenge is believed to be an epicenter of Earth energy with as many as 14 ley lines converging on the site—powerful channels of energy associated with places of ancient and primordial significance.

It is plain to see that when we are ready to invest in our spiritual well-being in a fun, mind-expanding way, many mind-body-spirit travel options abound.

Kiki Powers is a health writer, blogger and national speaker specializing in plant-based nutrition and healthy green living. Learn more at RawKiki.com.

Making the Most of a Spiritual Vacation

by Linda Sechrist

Phil Cousineau, author of The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred, specializes in creating meaningful travel experiences and leading tours to sacred sites. “All pilgrimages are a search for meaning and purpose, which is why I prepare groups on how to travel deliberately, ways to experience it and how to integrate the experiences into daily life so they are not forgotten,” he says.

Cousineau recommends getting off the bus, putting away the video recorder and simply walking into the landscape. “Remind yourself why you traveled to there,” he says. “Take the deepest, most probing question in your life with you. Chronicle your answer for two to five minutes daily. At the site, look for one detail that represents your entire visit that day and take a photo. Use active imagination to open your heart, rather than waiting for something to happen. Don’t compare your travels. When you are comparing where you are with where you’ve been, there’s no meaning—it becomes just one more purposeless tour.”

To share the experience with traveling companions, Cousineau says, “I begin mornings over breakfast with a long conversation that includes any stories about where we’re visiting. We’re reminding ourselves that we’re forming a small community by traveling together and studying the same stories so that we can continue our long conversation over dinner. This is where the meaning starts to form and deepen.”

Medical Tourism NAVIGATING THE RISKS AND REWARDS

by Sheila Julson

Many Americans have experienced sticker shock upon receiving a medical or dental bill, whether or not they have health insurance. As healthcare costs continue to rise in the United States, patients are grabbing their passports and turning to medical tourism—the act of crossing borders to obtain quality medical care at a lower cost.

“We have a great healthcare system in the United States, but it is priced out of the market for millions of people at the bottom of the economic pyramid,” says Josef Woodman, CEO of Patients Beyond Borders, a medical tourism resource. He estimates that to date, 2.1 to 2.4 million Americans have intentionally crossed borders specifically for medical care. Approximately 65 percent of those people sought complex dental treatments.

The town of Los Algodones, Mexico, located just over the U.S.-Mexico border near Baja California, has approximately 300 dental clinics. Known as “Molar City”, the town is a mecca for people looking for more affordable dentistry. U.S. travelers also head to Costa Rica, Turkey and Thailand for elective cosmetic surgery, bariatrics, infertility treatments, orthopedic medicine, cardiology and cancer care, or to obtain low-cost pharmaceuticals.

Add holistic treatments to the list, says David G. Vequist IV, Ph.D., the founder and director of the Center for Medical Tourism Research at the University of the Incarnate Word, in San Antonio. “People are very interested in how Asian countries naturally combine both alternative and traditional medicine. Philosophies like ‘food as medicine’ are commonly used in treatments there,” says the 15-year scholar of medical tourism trends.

Planning for the Best Outcomes

According to Vequist, “The best Mexican hospitals are using the same standards that we have in the U.S.” In 2009, for example, when Mexico’s General Health Council set out to create national hospital certification standards in their country, officials followed protocols established by Joint Commission International, an influential U.S.-based nonprofit that has served as a global driver of health care quality improvement and patient safety for the past 20 years.

Nevertheless, it is important to understand that complications may arise during a healthcare procedure regardless of where it is performed. Vequist cautions that the farther a patient travels from home, the more likely they will be exposed to bacteria that is unfamiliar to their body. Also, traveling in a pressurized airplane after complex surgical procedures should be avoided, and seeking medical care outside of a patient’s regular care network may break the continuum of care, leading to miscommunication and errors in the transfer of medical records.

“Although global health care isn’t for everyone, those who try it will find the quality is the same or better than at home, with modern facilities at a fraction of the cost,” says Paul McTaggart, founder of two specialized travel agencies—Medical Departures and Dental Departures—that help patients become informed about the best and most appropriate clinics and doctors around the world for their

medical needs. They also book appointments, forward medical records and make travel arrangements.

McTaggart vets medical providers outside of the U.S. by verifying doctor credentials with local regulatory authorities; measuring web reputations; conducting onsite inspections when possible; posting authentic, patient-verified reviews; removing partners that consistently receive poor reviews; and checking the web for legal and other claims against hospitals or clinics.

Woodman advises that extensive research of foreign hospitals, clinics and providers is crucial for a positive medical-tourism outcome and cautions against making a decision based solely on cost. “There are some bad actors out there that advertise mostly on price to attract U.S. patients. If a clinic advertises that you’ll save 80 or 90 percent off U.S. healthcare prices, be wary—that’s way too high of a discount.”

Other red flags include clinics that are located in strip malls or a lack of verifiable credentials for a provider. “A medical tourist needs to be a little more adaptable and critical of their surroundings,” Woodman says, adding that even if they’ve made the trip, when the circumstances seem off, a patient should never feel pressured to go through with the treatment or procedure.

Jonathan Edelheit, president of the Medical Tourism Association, recommends using healthcare providers that are certified or accredited by international organizations like Global Healthcare Accreditation. “Be careful of trusting any website,” he warns. “Some medical tourism facilitators are middlemen or agencies that receive a commission. Some will refer you to the best provider, but some will refer you to a provider that provides the largest commission, but who isn’t the best.”

Edelheit believes that with proper research and planning, cost-effective, quality health care is possible. He reminds travelers to avoid countries where the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory, and he recommends speaking with several patients that have gone through the same procedure to get a firsthand review and manage expectations. He asserts, “The value you receive and being able to immerse yourself in another culture and integrate a vacation is something that most medical tourists treasure and cherish.”

Nature’s Germ Killer

Stop germs before you get sick

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That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify water and heal wounds. They didn’t know about germs, but now we do.

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Getting sick after Air Travel

The National Institutes of Health, the EPA and the American Society for Microbiology vouch for the power of copper to kill germs, including antibiotic- resistant ones.

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Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings.

Understanding Light Pollution ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND ACHIEVABLE REMEDIES

by Sheryl DeVore

30 percent of nocturnal vertebrates and 60 percent of nocturnal invertebrates, and it “is increasingly suspected of affecting human health,” writes scientist Christopher Kyba, lead author of the report.

At Montana’s Medicine Rock State Park, visitors have a rare opportunity to look up at the night sky and see an awe-inspiring display of planets and constellations, as well as the Milky Way, our spiral-shaped galaxy that contains about 100 billion stars, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is a magnificent sight, but those of us that live in or near cities with artificial lights beaming out of buildings and cascading over parking lots and highways may never get the pleasure.

“Because of light pollution, up to 80 percent of people living in North America are unable to see the Milky Way where they live,” says Sabre Moore, executive director of the Carter County Museum, in Ekalaka, Montana. “Medicine Rock State Park is designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, and the Carter County Museum has committed to safeguarding it in perpetuity.”

The park’s sanctuary certification was issued by the nonprofit International Dark-Sky Association, based in Tucson, Arizona, with a grassroots network throughout the world. The organization offers five dark-sky designations based on stringent outdoor lighting standards and relies on the help of community stakeholders, such as Moore, who serves as a volunteer dark-sky preservation advocate. At Medicine Rock, she helps host sky-parties for people to enjoy the celestial show and learn about the negative impacts of light pollution.

Threats Posed by Artificial Lighting

The skies around cities are hundreds, if not thousands, of times brighter than they were 200 years ago, according to 2017 research published in Science Advances. In addition to robbing us of the Earth’s nocturnal skyscape, outdoor illumination negatively affects many plants and animals, including humans. Human-made lighting threatens approximately

The mechanisms by which these life forms are affected vary. For example, when birds migrate, they fly into buildings that are lit up at night. Scientists estimate that at least 100 million bird deaths in the United States annually are related to light pollution. “Bobcats and bats rely on the cover of darkness for their survival and are also being affected,” says Moore, adding that artificial light interrupts human circadian rhythms, thereby affecting our REM [rapid eye movement] sleep, which is vital for our well-being. The flight patterns of night-active insects are disrupted by outdoor lighting, which partially explains their declining numbers worldwide.

A Simple Switch Saves Turtles

It is possible to reduce these negative impacts, as the Sea Turtle Conservancy has proven. By getting people to modify the positioning and types of lights used in buildings along Florida and Texas beaches, the nonprofit has been able to rescue loggerheads, leatherbacks and green sea turtles from the brink of extinction.

Female turtles have evolved to instinctively lay their eggs on the beach, allowing the hatchlings to emerge at night and head toward the light of the horizon into sea. Humans, however, have interrupted this natural course with artificial light emanating from the windows of high-rise condominiums, garden spotlights and outdoor lamps.

“When hatchlings erupt out of their

nests in the middle of the night, the bright horizon today is in the direction of the land. They go the wrong way into roads, parking lots, swimming pools or dunes, where they are run over by cars or subject to predation,” explains David Godfrey, executive director of the conservancy.

Researchers have discovered that lights with longer wavelengths that are amber, orange and red in color do not disturb the turtles, as opposed to outdoor fixtures that emanate shorter-wavelength blue and white light. According to Godfrey, the good news for these sea creatures is, “LED can be programmed to emit the specific wavelength you want.”

The conservancy works with coastal counties, beachfront property owners and others to switch to turtle-friendly lighting, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation often provides grants to pay the retrofitting costs. As a result, Godfrey reports, there has been increased nesting in areas with changed lighting and greater survivorship by the hatchlings.

“We are saving tens of thousands of hatchlings every season, and homeowners are seeing a reduction in their utility bills. People love it. They’ve found the longer wavelengths are more pleasing to the eyes,” Godfrey asserts. “Since we know that light

pollution affects various other forms of wildlife and humans, the managed use of lighting at night is something that everyone should pay attention to.”

Tips to Address Light Pollution

n Avoid blue-light fixtures.

n Turn off unnecessary lights in the evening.

n Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors.

n Close curtains and blinds at night to stop indoor lights from beaming to the outdoors.

n Visit Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky, an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, in Washington, D.C. (NaturalHistory. si.edu/exhibits/lights-out).

n Get involved at GlobeAtNight.org, a citizen-scientist group that monitors light pollution.

n Support dark-sky designated areas (Tinyurl.com/DarkSkyPlace).

Sheryl DeVore is a frequent contributor to national and regional publications and has authored six books on science, health and nature. Learn more at SherylDeVore. wordpress.com.

Photo by David Godfrey

Photo by David Godfrey

Helping Kids Cope GUIDING CHILDREN THROUGH TRAUMA AND ANXIETY

by Carrie Jackson

Children today are facing ever-increasing amounts of stress and anxiety. In addition to academic pressure, bullying and family dynamics, kids are worried about navigating social media, climate change and school shootings. While a certain amount of stress is normal and healthy, too much can cause debilitating physical, emotional and cognitive effects.

A 2010 study published by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, at Harvard University, reports that persistent fear and chronic anxiety can have lifelong consequences by disrupting the developing architecture of the brain. Parents can help anxious kids by modeling stress-management and problem-solving techniques, and inviting their children to talk about their feelings.

Acknowledging and Coping With Fear

While each child’s anxiety is unique, the themes are often universal. “Children fear not being liked, being made fun of, failing when they try new things, getting hurt, losing a loved one, being left out and not fitting in. If this list seems familiar, it’s because they are all the same fears adults have too,” says Michelle Nelson-Schmidt, an author and illustrator of 32 children’s books, including What If I Know My Feelings? and The Whatif Monster series. “It is debilitating when we don’t talk about our fears and anxieties. Children often don’t have the vocabulary to verbalize their fears, so they bottle it up, letting fears get bigger and scarier. The earlier they learn that it’s okay to be scared, to talk about their fears and to ask for help, the less power fear and anxiety will have over their brains.”

According to Dr. Carol Penn, author of Meditation in a Time of Madness: A Guidebook for Talented Tweens, Teens, Their Parents & Guardians Who Need to Thrive, “Fear is a

natural phenomenon. It’s how we’re hardwired to survive as a species. However, when fear turns into anxiety and the body enters a chronic state of hyper-arousal with raised cortisol levels, it can be debilitating. This shortens attention spans and disrupts the hypothalamic loop, which deals with creating short-term memory, causing kids to lose the ability to engrain long-term learning.”

Penn notes that kids can pick up on their parents’ anxiety, so it is imperative to model self-care and create a soothing home environment. “Children are unsettled when their parents are unsettled. By observing body language and energy, kids can intuitively gauge when something is wrong, and they often make up stories about why,” she explains. “Teaching kids to take regular breaks throughout the day for relaxed awareness encourages them to notice a mind-body connection. Take two minutes before getting out of the car or starting a new activity to pay attention to your breath and observe and label pain or tension in the body. If you are hunching your shoulders or clenching your jaw, make mindful adjustments to reset and settle the body and nervous system.”

Overcoming Anxiety After a Traumatic Event

Last year, Highland Park, Illinois, experienced the improbable yet possible event of a mass shooting during their Fourth of July parade. “While the community worked to rediscover a sense of safety, our school focused on the necessary structures and initiatives to help students heal and rebuild,” says Holly Fleischer, the assistant principal of diversity, equity and inclusion at Highland Park High School. “As we started the school year, we recommitted to a focus on social-emotional learning by teaching strategies to manage emotions, sustain healthy relationships, develop an awareness of self and make healthy decisions. By practicing coping skills with everyday stressors, our students are learning to develop feelings of control, safety and resiliency as they navigate a traumatic experience or event.”

According to Fleischer, “While there is little control of one’s outside world and circumstances, kids can find calm in a storm through strategies like deep breathing, recognizing your five senses, listening to music, reaching out to loved ones, using ice

packs for sensory intervention and giving oneself a strong bear hug. Students will get to know which ones work for them. It is also essential to disrupt maladaptive coping mechanisms like avoidance, which do not allow for the practice of these healthier ways of self-management.”

Building Resilience for the Future

“Thoughts are the language of the mind, and feelings are the language of the body,” Penn counsels. “When stress develops, have kids draw three pictures identifying what it looks like for them. The first is a picture of themselves right now; the second is the challenge they’re facing; and the third is how they will feel when the challenge is resolved. This gives children control over their feelings, allowing them to self-soothe and creatively work through challenging situations. When children learn to be adaptable, flexible and imaginative critical thinkers, they can respond to even the darkest days and move forward with grace and hope.”

Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

Stephen Cope

ON FINDING YOUR CALLING

by Sandra Yeyati

Specializing in the relationship between Eastern contemplative traditions and Western psychology, Stephen Cope has been a scholar-in-residence for more than three decades at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, the largest residential yoga center in North America. He also founded the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, a global network of scientists that researches the effects and mechanisms of yoga-based practices. Cope is a classically trained pianist, dancer and psychotherapist, as well as the bestselling author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, The Wisdom of Yoga and The Great Work of Your Life. His latest book is The Dharma in Difficult Times: Finding Your Calling in Times of Loss, Change, Struggle and Doubt.

Why is it important to find our calling?

In classical yoga, there’s a view that everybody has a vocation. The earliest myth that supports this dates back several thousand years to the Vedic tradition in India and involves the god Indra, who is said to have cast a vast net over the entire universe. At each vertex of this net there’s a gem, and that gem is an individual soul whose job is to hold together the net at that point.

This introduces the view that each of us has a responsibility to contribute our gifts in such a way that we hold together our little piece of the net. If we don’t, the net starts to unravel. Dharma is Sanskrit for sacred vocation or sacred duty, which comes from the root dhri, “to hold together”.

It’s this fascinating notion that we have a responsibility to our own idiosyncratic genius, which sustains not only us by providing a fulfilling life, but also the whole world by taking care of our corner of the world.

How can we find our life’s purpose?

The practice of yoga and meditation is about increasing our connection with the subtle, internal world. Thoreau called it the distant drummer. While our culture constantly draws us out and distracts us, Eastern contemplative traditions invite us to quiet our monkey mind and listen inside to that still, small voice that is attuned to our deepest needs and to the way the world works. It’s that awake, or enlightened, part of the mind that can connect you to your true calling.

There are three questions that people can ask themselves.

First: What lights you up? This is an energetic experience in our bodies when we come close to the occupation or endeavors that are important to our soul. Get familiar on a day-to-day basis with what lights you up, then slowly move toward those things and integrate them into your life.

Second: What duties do you feel called to? I don’t mean those onerous things that are imposed on us by our culture. I mean a duty that if you don’t do it in this lifetime, you’ll feel a profound sense of regret and self-betrayal.

photo courtesy of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Third: What problems or difficulties are you facing in your life right now? Difficulties can point you to something that might be your dharma. Marion Woodman, a good friend and feminist who was diagnosed with bone cancer in her mid-60s, decided to close her psychoanalytic practice and devote the rest of her life to being in relationship with the cancer, investigating it as her calling. Very often, somebody’s calling is something really difficult they’re experiencing, like an unhappy marriage or dissatisfaction in career, and their dharma is to investigate what this means for their life.

How do we follow the still, small voice when it feels like we’re stepping off the cliff?

Robert Frost stepped off a series of smaller curbs that added up to a cliff. He was concerned, as we all are, about security, making money and keeping his family safe, so he became a teacher. But there was a point at which he had to give up teaching and follow this deep voice that said, “Poetry is your calling.” He was 38 when he made the final decision to let go of other sources of income, and when he did that, his poetry came alive.

What advice do you have for fulfilling our life’s work?

In the Bhagavad Gita [Hindu scripture], there are four pillars of dharma. The first is discernment—finding your calling in this lifetime. The second—the doctrine of unified action—is to bring everything you’ve got to whatever you decide is your calling. Third is to let go of the outcome, also known as relinquishing the fruit. The ancient yogis discovered that if you’re grasping for a particular outcome, it takes you out of the moment and into some future fantasized moment. By letting go, you empower yourself to be more present to the possibilities of the moment. The fourth pillar is to turn the whole process over to God or to something bigger than just yourself. My friends who don’t believe in a higher power or god understand that concept of dedication to the planet, to humanity or to all beings.

Are you hopeful about the future?

Very hopeful. The contemplative traditions discovered that human beings who were jivanmukta, or soul-awake, were special versions of human beings in that they had capacities of compassion, lovingkindness, joy, generosity and selflessness. Those qualities, which are developed in the practice of yoga and meditation, add to the common good. I’m hopeful that as we become everything we can be, we will have the capacity to solve some of the huge problems that we have. As reckless as we are these days with our world, human beings have very often risen to the challenge of complex dilemmas and resolved them. As we come together, we start manifesting unified action. The power of human beings working together for the common good is almost limitless.

If a metal does this to your skin... Imagine what it will do implanted inside of your body?

Sandra Yeyati is the national editor of Natural Awakenings

DOG PARENTING

HOW TO SHAPE BEHAVIOR AND STRENGTHEN OUR BOND

by Karen Shaw Becker, DVM

Although the saying is that dogs are our best friends, canine companions are a lot like kids, too. In the same way that parenting styles impact children’s mental and emotional development, so do pet parenting choices. How we guide and care for our dogs can shape their behavior, responsiveness, attachment, cognition and overall well-being.

A 2022 study in the journal Animal Cognition found that authoritative pet parents, defined as those with high expectations for their dogs, have the most positive influence on the behavior and cognition of their pets. The study’s co-author, Monique Udell, an associate professor at Oregon State University, says, “We found that pet parenting style does predict patterns of dog behavior and cognition. This is an important finding because it suggests that dog owners who take the time to understand and meet their dog’s needs are more likely to end up with secure, resilient dogs.”

Pet Parenting Styles

A range of factors will determine a dog owner’s parenting style, but in general there are three categories:

n Authoritative (high expectations, high responsiveness)

n Authoritarian (high expectations, low responsiveness)

n Permissive (low expectations, low responsiveness)

Dogs with authoritative owners are the most likely to have secure attachment

styles, be highly responsive to social cues, prefer to be close to their owner over an unfamiliar person and be more independently persistent in solving problems.

Understanding the Human-Canine Connection

Dogs track human eye movements, linking them with intent. One study has suggested that when a dog’s gaze follows a human’s, it’s not simply a reflex; rather, it is associated with the human’s “communicative intent”. A dog’s ability to interact with its owner at this level helps strengthen the bond they share.

According to study co-author and behavioral scientist Lauren Brubaker, research into human-dog relationships parallels human psychological research in that, just as a child’s development, mental health, intellectual success, social cognition, attachment and job performance are influenced by their upbringing, human-dog relationships influence a dog’s behavior and cognition.

A positive connection between humans and their canine family members is mutually beneficial on many levels. Science has revealed a demonstrable chemistry between dogs and their humans, and, in fact, daily interactions with our canine companions have a measurably beneficial effect on our biochemistry, thanks to a hormone called oxytocin, sometimes called the “hug hormone” or the “love chemical”.

A Japanese study involving 55 dogs and owners proved that when we share loving visual connections with our dogs, everyone

benefits. The researchers found that people whose dogs looked upon them for two minutes or more showed increased levels of oxytocin and claimed to be happier than owners whose dogs regarded them for a minute or less.

In a 2003 study conducted at the University of Pretoria, in South Africa, researchers had dog owners focus solely on their pets for half an hour, talking with them as they stroked, scratched and petted them. The owners’ blood was drawn at the beginning and at the end of the 30-minute session.

The scientists found that blood pressure decreased in the human subjects, while oxytocin increased, as did other beneficial hormones, such as beta-endorphins, which are associated with both pain relief and euphoria; prolactin, which promotes bonding between parent and child; phenylethylamine, which is increased in people involved in romantic relationships; and dopamine, which heightens feelings of pleasure. These hormones were also elevated in the dogs, which suggests the feelings of attachment are mutual.

As we see, there is a demonstrable positive chemistry between dogs and humans. Not only can our pet parenting style shape a dog’s behavior, it also has potential wellness benefits for us mentally, physically, emotionally or all the above.

Veterinarian Karen Shaw Becker has spent her career empowering animal guardians to make knowledgeable decisions to extend the life and well-being of their animals. To learn more, visit DrKarenBecker.com.

Eco Travel 101

While checking places off the travel bucket list, keep in mind these traveling tips for leaving small footprints across the Earth.

REDUCE FARAWAY TRAVEL

Burning up jet fuel to fly to places represents a large affront to the environment. Staycations are the most eco-friendly. The shorter the distance we travel from home, the lower our carbon footprint. Because takeoffs and landings use the most fuel, fly direct whenever possible.

AVOID OVER-TOURISM

Some sites are so popular that they are prone to being overrun and abused. To avoid becoming part of the trampling herd and minimize tourist impact, visit the most popular tourist destinations during off-peak months or avoid them altogether. A green travel agent can help find less-trafficked destinations, book hotels with green certifications and secure eco-friendly tours and adventures.

SAY NO TO DISPOSABLE PLASTICS

Put together a travel kit that doesn’t include throwaway plastics. Pack soap, shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as soap sheets that fit in a wallet, lather up with water and disintegrate. Invest in a reusable travel bottle—collapsible types use less space—along with a filter or purifier, in case of non-potable water. Pack a few lightweight cloth bags for souvenir shopping.

GO PAPERLESS

Most transportation tickets can be purchased online and stored on a phone, with no paper needed. The same is true for maps, brochures and guidebooks.

RESPECT RESOURCES

Help the local economy by using less of the area’s resources. Turn off the lights and air conditioning when not in the hotel room. Take short showers. Don’t get the bed remade with fresh sheets every day, and reuse towels as much as possible.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

To support community talent, purchase from local artisans for unique gifts. While a chain restaurant might seem fun, a local restaurant is more likely to serve authentic dishes. Ask residents where they would go, or hire a guide that lives in the area.

USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Rental cars and taxis use more resources and may not give the best travel experience. Taking a local bus or train across town helps the environment and provides a great way to experience the culture. Biking and walking are even more environmentally friendly and allow for some of the best meandering and sightseeing

LEAVE NO TRACE

Leave nothing behind. Place trash in receptacles, or, better yet, carry a bag and pick up trash to beautify the landscape.

calendar of events

To place a calendar/ongoing/classified event, email content to ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com. Entries must adhere to our guidelines and be submitted by September 12 (for October issue). Costs $20 for 35 words each month. Call ahead before attending events to avoid any cancellations or changes.

Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic–We are consciously scheduling appointments. We are sanitizing our office and waiting areas throughout the day and wearing personal protective gear. Call 803-376-6293 to schedule an appointment.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Backyard Saturday–Nature Tracks–10am-noon. Through play, families can experience nature. There will be fun activities, games, stories, cool biofacts and an explorative hike. Ages 0-7. Cost: $5 parking. Leo’s Landing at Saluda Shoals Park, 6071 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info/join mailing list: 803-772-1228.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Labor Day Special–10am-5pm. Workwear shoes special $20 off. Foot Savi, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-781-1230.

FRIDAYS SEPTEMBER 8, 15 & 22

Saluda Shoals Fall Music Series–7-9:30pm. Sept 8–3 Guys and My Dad; Sept 15–DAZR; and Sept 22–Watson Village. Live music outdoors on the deck. Food from Café Strudel; beer and wine will be available for purchase. Seating is provided. No outside food and beverages. All ages. Cost: $12 advance; $15 day of event. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info/tickets: 803772-1228, icrc.net.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Okra Strut Special–10am-5pm. Strut in for $20 off on all fall shoes. Foot Savi, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-781-1230.

Soggy Doggy Day–11am-2pm. Canines enjoy a fenced-in version of Saluda Splash. Cost: $4 per dog/Barking Lot members free; $5 parking. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-772-1228, icrc.net.

ongoing events

sunday

Unity of Columbia–11am. Every Sunday. A vibrant, spiritual meditation community. Free. Unity of Columbia, 1801 Legrand Rd. Info: UnityOfTheMidlands@gmail.com, UnityOfTheMidlands.org. Health, Hope & Healing–6:30-7pm. Every Sunday. Join us for Ms. Tracy’s radio show debut on Kiss 103.1FM, discussing health and wellness issues from a holistic perspective. Email any health questions you would like to have answered on the air. Info: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833-678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

Virtual Healthy Living Support Group–7pm. Every first and third Sunday. Virtual support group via Zoom. Uplift, support and encourage one another while making necessary changes for better health and wellness. Donations accepted. Info/ register: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833-678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

tuesday

Grocery Store Walkthrough–Every Tuesday. It can be difficult to navigate which food choices are the best and healthiest for you and your family. Learn how to choose healthy food options and how to read and understand food labels with Kristen Turpen, of Radiant Holistic Healing. Info/times/to schedule your walkthrough: Contact Turpen at 839-207-0057 or RadiantHolisticHealing@hotmail.com.

Eternal Planning Zoom Meeting –7pm. Third Tuesdays. An overview of the many different options for traditional funerals, home funerals, cremations

and burials. Learn how to prepare your family for the discussion that everyone wants to avoid...death. Email EternalPlanningSC@gmail.com to get Zoom information.

wednesday

Grocery Store Walkthrough–Every Wednesday. It can be difficult to navigate which food choices are the best and healthiest for you and your family. Learn how to choose healthy food options and how to read and understand food labels with Kristen Turpen, of Radiant Holistic Healing. Info/times/to schedule your walkthrough: Contact Turpen at 839207-0057 or RadiantHolisticHealing@hotmail.com. Ask the Gardener “Happy Hour”–4-6pm. First and third Wednesdays. Bring your plants, pictures and questions! Have one-on-one conversations regarding the science behind your specific needs and issues. Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St, Columbia. Info: 803-851-1905, GardenersOutpost.com.

thursday

Garden Asana –8:15-9:15am. First and fourth Thursdays. Hosted by Mitchell Hughes, of Grass Roots Yoga. Cost: $15. RSVP by paying online via Venmo-MitchellCHughes. Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St, Columbia. Info: 803-851-1905, GardenersOutpost.com.

Healthy Cooking Class–10:30am-noon. Every other Thursday. Learn to make and enjoy the healthier versions of the foods we love. Free; must preregister. Hyatt Park Recreation Center, 950 Jackson Ave, Columbia. Info/register: Contact Ms. Tracy at 833-678-7229 or OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com.

natural directory

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, call 803-309-2101 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakenings.com.

AESTHETICS EXPECT CLARITY AESTHETICS

Angie Jewell

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste G, Columbia 803-348-8962

Our carefully crafted and customized holistic care plans include Environ skin care products, which utilize science to deliver real skin benefits, paired with treatment room modalities, such as PBM, LFS, RF, microcurrent, facial/ear reflexology, facial sculpting massage, and gua sha, to help our clients reach their skin goals. Consistent and positive results include luminous, smooth, taut skin with even skin pigmentation. It’s time to expect clarity!

AROMATHERAPY

GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15-A, Columbia Trenholm Plaza, in Forest Acres 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

Improve your level of stress, depression and mood with natural products from a locally owned family business. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you using aromatherapy for pain, anxiety, energy enhancement and more. We carry several brands of essential oils, including doTERRA. See ads, page 2 and back page.

CHIROPRACTIC

CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC

Dr. Shelly Jones, DC 5209 Forest Dr, Ste C, Columbia 803-771-9990 • DrShellyJones.com

Webster Technique certified, Dr. Jones provides family chiropractic care, health information and wellness resources to support the body’s natural ability to heal, allowing one to feel better and enjoy living a more active lifestyle! Call to schedule your appointment or discuss bringing our onsite chiropractic care and health-education services to your business, school or athletic team.

DOWDY RUDOLPH CHIROPRACTIC LLC

Dr. Dowdy Rudolph, DC

1444 Barnwell St, Columbia 803-376-6293 • DowdyRudolphChiro.com

Dr. Gerald Rudolph, DC, focuses on finding the root cause of your problems and not just treating your pain. He utilizes digital X-rays to help diagnose problems, spinal adjustments to stimulate proper movement of spinal and extremity joints, active therapeutic movement exercises to correct movement disorders,

and spinal decompression to help relieve numbness and tingling down your arms and legs. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic also offers a state-of-the-art full-body lounge hydromassage table that can help you feel more rejuvenated and relaxed. See ad, page 32.

COLON HEALTH

SPRING RAIN HYDROTHERAPY

Linda Salyer

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste H, Columbia 803-361-2620 • LSalyer@ymail.com

All disease begins in the colon. Constipation; slow, sluggish bowel; gas and bloating? A colonic will help to rid you of these problems. Colonics promote good digestion, help speed metabolism, help lower cholesterol, and help relieve joint pain. Linda Salyer is IACN certified and a retired nurse. Saturday appointments available with an additional small convenience fee. See ad, page 29.

FOOT CARE

FOOT SAVI

7001 St Andrews Rd, Ste A Certified Board Pedorthist and Brace Specialist 803-781-1230 • FootSavi.com

With more than 30-plus years in the footcare/footwear industry, Sion Owen helps with a variety of issues, including gait analysis, foot assessments, custom orthotics, bracing and compression therapy, plantar fascia pain, neuropathy and fitting for therapeutic shoes for patients with diabetes, arthritis, painful bunions, callouses and hammer toes. Call to schedule an appointment! See ad, page 21.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aqua-chi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 8.

Connect with us naturally!

ORIGINAL ORIGINS HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Tracy R. Jacox • 833-678-7229

OriginalOriginshw@gmail.com

OriginalOriginshw.com

Ms. Tracy has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. The mission of Original Origins Health and Wellness is to educate, equip and empower the community to adopt a predominately whole food, plant-based lifestyle, which will improve and optimize your quality of life, health and wellness while preventing, delaying, reversing or eliminating chronic illnesses. Original Origins can assist you with maximizing your health and wellness holistically! Our wide range of services include health coach partnering, comprehensive health evaluations, comprehensive cooking experiences, and a comprehensive kitchen evaluation. Your health is your wealth! See ad, page 13.

HOLISTIC NUTRITION

RADIANT HOLISTIC HEALING

Kristen Turpen

Board-Certified Holistic Nutritionist 839-207-0057

RadiantHolisticHealth@hotmail.com

RadiantHolisticHealing.net

Kristen uses personalized nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, individualized nutritional supplements, stressmanagement techniques, assistance with detoxification, and lifestyle modification to help restore optimal bodily function and balance. All treatment plans are customized to each individual’s needs. “My goal is to help treat and heal the entire body from suffering caused by any illness. One’s health is an expression of the complex interchange between the physical, environmental, chemical, mental, spiritual, as well as emotional aspects of one’s life and being.” See ad, page 31.

HOLISTIC WELLNESS

NATURAL BEING HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA & CENTER

1911 Barnwell St, Ste C, Columbia 803-708-8612 • nbhwsc.com

We are a very unique health and wellness center designed to help you discover a more natural and healthier way of living. Are you in need of a total detox? Do you want to rid your body of toxins or need to lose inches and burn 300 calories in 30 minutes? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then come embark on a healthy journey with us! Our extensive list of professional services includes foot detoxing, infrared sauna body wrapping, vaginal/yoni steaming, and vaginal rejuvenation. Owner and operator Sherino L. Maple is now offering complimentary consultations. Call today to book a consultation. See ad, page 5.

1 WITH NATURE THERAPIES

Amber Addy, CHHP

3937 Sunset Blvd, W Columbia 803-269-9835

1WithNatureTherapies@gmail.com

1WithNatureTherapies.com

Amber is a certified holistic healthcare practitioner and sees clients by appointment only. The first consult includes a study history and background, a physical exam, a urine test (RBTI), muscle testing and recommendations. Iridology and a Bach Flower consult are available upon request. Health services include, but are not limited to, homeopathic options. Other services include Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities, such as acupressure and reflexology, energy healing, TMP lamp, herbal recommendations, aromatherapy, and mud packing, among others. See ad, page 29.

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE

EXPECT WELLNESS

Dr. Rachel Hall

130 Suber Rd, Columbia 803-796-1702 • DrRachelHall.com

ExpectWellness@sc.rr.com

Find us on Facebook for great health tips. Integrative/Holistic medicine consults for anyone wanting to approach their health more naturally. Dr. Rachel Hall is board certified in both family medicine and integrative holistic medicine. Together we will focus on finding the root of the problem, not just treating symptoms.

Call today for a consult if you are looking to achieve balance. In-house diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 3.

LOCAL RETREAT

JOY LEE CONNOR, LMT (SC#1229)

Healing Minster at Springhill AtONEment Center

803-447-6499

Joy has more than 30 years of experience in energy and bodywork. She teaches Reiki, Touch for Health, Meditation, Yoga, Ayurveda and A Course in Miracles. Joy welcomes and sees clients who are ready to shed guilt and limitations in favor of forgiveness and freedom. One hundred acres of trees surround this pristine location for healing at Springhill AtONEment Center. Nature walks and fireside gatherings available. Contact Joy at 803-447-6499.

PHILANTHROPY

SISTERS EMPOWERING EACH OTHER

Pamela Johnson, President

P.O. Box 212404, Columbia 803-521-3036 • seeo2018@gmail.com

Sisters Empowering Each Other (SEEO) is a nonprofit organization founded by Pamela Johnson. Our mission is to fundraise monies in order to provide new fullsized personal hygiene packages to women who are homeless and/or abused. The women and children included may reside in shelters

or transitional homes. SEEO motto: Being a Servant for the Lord. Ways to donate: Cash app –$seeo20180; PayPal–seeo2018@gmail.com; or mail check to address above. Contact Johnson to volunteer.

PREGNANCY/LACTATION

GRACEFUL BEGINNINGS BIRTH

Lindsay Bryan, CD(DONA) 404-314-0363 • GracefulBeginningsBirth.com

As your doula, my goal is to provide you and your partner with the support, care, understanding and information you need throughout the birthing process. Beginning with natural birth education and assistance with birth plans through in-person prenatal appointments and birthing support, we will work together to achieve your birth goals. Postpartum services include lactation care as well as a functional assessment for ties and oral tethers. Birth photography is also available.

REIKI & WELLNESS

MARTA NATURALS REIKI AND WELLNESS

Martha Kirby, Reiki Master and Spiritual Life Coach

Columbia Area 803-864-6259 • MartaNaturals.com

Everything is energy, as are our thoughts. We give them life, bad or good. Everything you need is within you to change and transform those negative thoughts. Let me help you unlock those secrets to become the best version

of you. We offer mobile and virtual sessions. Call today to schedule your session or free consultation. See ad, page 15

PEACEFUL PAUSE HEALING

Malai Roper

Reiki Master

Northeast Columbia

803-814-4001

PeacefulPauseHealing.com

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that promotes relaxation and reduces stress and anxiety through gentle hand movements. Using the guidance of your unique needs, treatments include a blend of reiki, sound healing, gemstone heat therapy, and chakra balancing to recharge your energy field and repair any energy blockages. Schedule your healing session online today! See ad, page 15.

SPIRITUAL QUIET MENDING

Allison Leo, Spiritual Director

937-418-3167 voice/text

QuietMending@gmail.com

Spiritual Direction is a process that guides us in uncovering and revealing the eternal and infinite aspects of our True Nature as spiritual beings. Through it, we learn to find and trust our intuitive inner voice, thus allowing us to live freely as expressions of our authentic spiritual selves. It is a confidential, one-on-one (virtually or in-person) process that unfolds safely in the wise, experienced and compassionate company of a trained and certified spiritual director. Allison Leo is a certified spiritual director and Reiki practitioner. Call, text or email to schedule a free initial consultation.

UNITY OF COLUMBIA

1801 Legrand Rd

803-736-5766 • UnityColumbia.org

Unity is a positive, practical, progressive approach to Christianity based on the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. Unity honors the universal truths in all religions and respects each individual’s right to choose a spiritual path. Come join us for a Sunday worship celebration and meet some positive, uplifting people that live life abundantly. See ad, page 21.

THERMOGRAPHY

ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aquachi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hardto-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 8.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS

GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15a, Columbia 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

At Garner’s Natural Life, we offer the purest, most innovative highquality natural products. With more than 130 collective years of wellness experience! Allows us to encourage your healthy choices. See ads, page 2 and back page.

Priceless lifetime, life-changing whole health bene ts for less than the cost of a smoothie a week!